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[mattg]

Hi All,
As some of you may have read, good old "Frank" http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=45651.0 did us proud again and as such we have decided that he deserves to retire from charity rallies (as do we I think lol) and be treated to a fairly serious makeover. The intention being to turn him into a bit of a trackday beast for the four of us to enjoy and hopefully continue to provide an interesting read. I'm hoping you knowledgable folks may be able to help us out a bit with some queries. remember, this is all to be done on a budget so upgrades using parts from better models is the key rather than Brembo 10 pots etc 

Engine :

Just to be a bit different and again keep costs down, we are interesting in going Saab 2.3T for the engine, I know it's been done with Cavaliers and Astras but I don't recall seeing an Omega get this treatment. Does anyone know if it will bolt up to the Box/work with the Omega Hydraulic clutch arrangement? Failing that, I assume the 3.2 V6 would go in from the later models? Would our manual box handle this hike in power?

Brakes :

I assume Omega MV6 brakes are the best ones to go for?  Does anyone know if anything bigger fits from the Vaux range e.g. Vectra VXR kit?

Susupension :

Again, I guess MV6 kit is the best available on a budget. If not, are their any recommended budget kits? I understand that Astra Rear springs can be used to lower the rear ride height.

Sorry for all of the queries, I know it would be easier to go and buy an MV6 but we are all a bit attached to old Frank and want to turn him into something a bit special. The stripping of weight will of course be the first job!

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[tunnie]

Brakes:

Are the same throughout the range, MV6 ones are no different from CD 3.2's had vented rears though..

Engine:

3.2 would go in, but your going to have to swap over all the ECU gubbins, 3.2 is DBW which adds more problems.

Suspension:

Prefacelift MV6 is basically the same as any other spec, it just has stiffer shocks. Facelift it had different springs & shocks, if its track day you want to look at Bilsteins really, standard MV6 will be too soft for track I think 

[mattg]

Brakes:

Are the same throughout the range, MV6 ones are no different from CD 3.2's had vented rears though..

Engine:

3.2 would go in, but your going to have to swap over all the ECU gubbins, 3.2 is DBW which adds more problems.

Suspension:

Prefacelift MV6 is basically the same as any other spec, it just has stiffer shocks. Facelift it had different springs & shocks, if its track day you want to look at Bilsteins really, standard MV6 will be too soft for track I think 

Thanks Tunnie, Would I be right in thinking the V6's have larger brakes than the 2.0 or are they all the same? didn't realise the 3.2 was DBW, I think that may be more trouble than it's worth. Is this also the case with the 2.5?

Will look out for some S/H Bilsteins 

[tunnie]

front brakes are same throughout the entire range, only very, very early pre-facelift 2.0's had slightly smaller discs. From about 1996 all brake disc sizes are the same, no matter what engine was fitted 

Yup, 3.2/2.6/2.2 petrol all DBW.

Nothing is impossible, but lot of work involved. I'd be tempted (if I had the ability  ) to stick a V8 in, as that would require just as much work 

[TheBoy]

Brakes are the same across the range EXCEPT:

pre 1998 2.0l cars had smaller front discs (286mm instead of 296mm)

post 2001 V6 cars had vented rears

I undertand Caterra (or is it GTO) brakes are bigger, and a direct swap

Std brakes probably will struggle on a track day


Suspension - I fear MV6 suspension may be soft for track.  Irmscher springs and Irmscher shocks stiffens it a lot. Eibach springs are probably similar, Bilstein B4 (or even more sportier) also work well, yet maintaining comfort.  Depends how stiff you want to go...


Not sure if there is a RWD gearbox that bolts on to that Saab engine.

[mattg]

Brakes are the same across the range EXCEPT:

pre 1998 2.0l cars had smaller front discs (286mm instead of 296mm)

post 2001 V6 cars had vented rears

I undertand Caterra (or is it GTO) brakes are bigger, and a direct swap

Std brakes probably will struggle on a track day


Suspension - I fear MV6 suspension may be soft for track.  Irmscher springs and Irmscher shocks stiffens it a lot. Eibach springs are probably similar, Bilstein B4 (or even more sportier) also work well, yet maintaining comfort.  Depends how stiff you want to go...


Not sure if there is a RWD gearbox that bolts on to that Saab engine.

Thanks chap, good input. So at the very least I will need to go to a Post 98 setup with decent discs,pads and fluid and see how they fare. We will be stripping alot of weight which should help (only intending to have two buckets and a hollowed out dash)

I've got Bilsteins on my 205 GTI and rate them well, just need to find some reasonable priced ones. Ride quality isn't an issue anymore so we can go as firm as we like 

Shame about the Saab engine, We MAY go the way of boosting the Ecotec and see what happens, it already has two headgaskets so it's kind of low comp anyway  and we have an intercooler kicking around. If not, I guess we just lump a 2.5 V6 in and go from there.

We are quite keen to enter the PPC £999 challenge in this.

[albitz]

The 3.0 isnt drive by wire, so that may be your best bet if you can find one at a good price.If your after a 2.5 I may be able to help.
I have a low mileage engine for not a lot of money,but someone else (who is a good customer) was interested in it, so I would have to check with them before selling it to someone else.
I also have a pair of vented rear discs here, and probably some other bits and pieces you might need.

[TheBoy]

whats wrong with drive by wire?

that said, I reckon 3.0l is quicker

[albitz]

Nothing wrong with it,just assuming it would be an easier conversion to change to a 2.5/3.0 than to a 2.6/3.2.

[mattg]

Thanks for the input so far folks, very interesting.

What kind of weight difference are we talking between the original Ecotec lump and say, a 3.0 V6?

[twiglet]

The 3.0 isnt drive by wire, so that may be your best bet if you can find one at a good price.If your after a 2.5 I may be able to help.
I have a low mileage engine for not a lot of money,but someone else (who is a good customer) was interested in it, so I would have to check with them before selling it to someone else.
I also have a pair of vented rear discs here, and probably some other bits and pieces you might need.

If you are going for the vented rear discs, you will need to change the rear calipers as well. If Albs doesn't have the calipers, then I do. 

[albitz]

Albs doesnt have the calipers.

[mattg]

Thanks guys. I'm not in the position to purchase the upgrade bits quite yet, just trying to put the spec together. I will be soon though so will make note of what you have 

[Andy H]

Thanks for the input so far folks, very interesting.

What kind of weight difference are we talking between the original Ecotec lump and say, a 3.0 V6?

AFAIK the blocks used in the 2.5/2.6/3.0/3.2 V6s are almost identical (and astonishingly heavy).

If you can do something with a turbocharged 4 pot you should have a lot less weight in the front of the car.

[albitz]

V6 engine is quite light and compact for its capacity. ..........tuning a 4 pot omega engine is a waste of time/effort/money imo.